tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39129839011897563152024-03-05T09:04:28.648-08:00eat. pray. bolus.stories of food, faith & family (oh, yeah...& diabetes!)Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-79164157721812750392011-09-07T09:24:00.000-07:002011-09-07T10:18:19.859-07:00Golf. Who Knew?<div class="MsoNormal">If you've followed our journey with diabetes from the <b><a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/">my pump gear blog</a></b>, you will probably remember the troubles we’ve had with blood sugars when it comes to sports. <b><a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/2010/05/lets-get-moving.html">Soccer</a></b>: probably the most stressful (for Mama). <b><a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/2010/01/batter-up.html">Softball</a></b>: not too bad, except when C would be up to bat and felt a low coming on that was dropping with a vengeance. <b><a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/2009/04/ballerina-girl.html">Dance</a></b>: quite manageable, as long as I keep up with the demands of being a “D” stage mom.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuNeZfyxcZ1L3DSsC53-8DOTbrIvoqffiSeVJwZ4n5vKKfSidLXSQyY155_HocwAf3JoumbA4M2XBMrGxms6mfzJiqjFe3X-SZsdKzykir-v_eLDGyLIL1ublneOSJRVVorZnOnMEwYk/s1600/clairegolf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuNeZfyxcZ1L3DSsC53-8DOTbrIvoqffiSeVJwZ4n5vKKfSidLXSQyY155_HocwAf3JoumbA4M2XBMrGxms6mfzJiqjFe3X-SZsdKzykir-v_eLDGyLIL1ublneOSJRVVorZnOnMEwYk/s320/clairegolf.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Enter golf.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’ve never been a big fan, really. I don’t even think of it in the same realm as true sports. (Sorry honey!) But, there we were this summer. All of us. Twiddling our thumbs. Trying to stay busy without spending a lot of money. We remembered the great week-long golf camp that the boys tried out last summer. It’s put on by the <b><a href="http://lacountygolfclub.lagolfclubs.com/clubs/NewHome.cfm/ClubID/30/Section/Home/messid/390" style="color: #274e13;">Los Angeles County Golf Club</a></b> system. And best of all, it’s FREE!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Well, after signing up the boys again, C clearly wanted to do it too. So…3 kids, signed up for golf camp.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We prepared the D bag with supplies, extra everything. It was gonna be a HOT week up in the canyon golf course. And, without a thought, I knew I would need to do the “D mom-hover” all week. (You know, letting those in charge know about her diabetes, supplies, lows, blood sugar checking, snacks, juice, blah-blah…and then hovering and watching for signs of lows…making sure she gets noticed and taken care of.)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The husband and I drove the kids up the hill, sunscreened and armed with water bottles. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We found the registration table and proceeded to fill out the necessary release and waiver forms. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TYPE 1 DIABETES…insulin dependent</b>, I wrote across the top, along the side and across the bottom of the papers. As I handed the forms to the director, he nonchalantly tapped a device on his waistband and said, “Oh, I’m type 1 also.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“What?” I said. “Excuse me…”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“I’m type 1…I’m on an insulin pump too.” He then turned toward C and talked with her, asking to see her pump. My eyes switched back and forth between the two of them. Same pump, different colors. C was all smiles. I was wide-eyed and looking shocked. He went on to tell us that one of the other instructors was also a pump-wearing type 1. He would make sure C would be in her group.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“This. Is. Just. Great!” I muttered. “I mean, not that you have diabetes, of course, but that…well…” I sighed a big sigh. “I think you know what I mean.”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“Of course,” he said.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We headed toward the putting green where the kids and instructors were gathering. There she was, another type 1 instructor! She went through a similar introduction about herself having diabetes, showing C her pump. Interestingly, she had been diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 30. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I wanted to hug her, simply for the fact that she must know what a parent feels to leave their child with diabetes in the care of others. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">“No need to stick around, unless you want to,” she said. “We’ll do our sugar checks together…and have a snack in a little bit."<br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZtuZsadmDOo4UsX9cn3geoQT3vZ23R40SCLSGAVXcoICQQ98qCsXRy-FEVo_9svoIREIoh6SFzrqntjT8_8KVb-Y1YpG7glyWPzj-RMkcIvfPyQ-MGHrOMsCZGdJsP_iAiR1qEUx0Rw/s1600/type1golf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZtuZsadmDOo4UsX9cn3geoQT3vZ23R40SCLSGAVXcoICQQ98qCsXRy-FEVo_9svoIREIoh6SFzrqntjT8_8KVb-Y1YpG7glyWPzj-RMkcIvfPyQ-MGHrOMsCZGdJsP_iAiR1qEUx0Rw/s320/type1golf.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 type 1s on 1 putting green</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">From the outside, this experience might just seem like a small thing. But for me, for C...it was HUGE! I stood there for a while, looking around, unconsciously breathing deeply. Very deeply. The husband turned to me and asked, "Are you alright?"</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">"Yes," I said. "I am."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We actually went to get a cup of coffee. </div>Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-14373148828672905172011-09-01T19:44:00.000-07:002011-09-01T19:46:01.105-07:00Diabetes Art Day 2011...Hi All!!<br />
<br />
I'm back...(I hope!) Back to having a computer. (Not the MacBook Pro I wanted, but hey.) Back to writing. Back to this blog that I left hanging! And, I'm jumping back to blogging on a very special day...<a href="http://www.diabetesartday.com/" style="color: #351c75;">Diabetes Art Day</a>, courtesy of LeeAnn over at <a href="http://www.thebuttercompartment.com/?p=6461" style="color: #b45f06;">The Butter Compartment</a>. It's the 2nd annual. And we're happy to have been part of the 1st. You can view C's artwork from last year <a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/2010/09/diabetes-art-day.html" style="color: #0b5394;">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Our submission this year kind of sums up how we (or maybe just I) have been dealing with and feeling about D in the last few months. Messy. Depressing. Misbehaved.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I call it <i>Summer with D.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33cusDpSOoWJV0URKYtX4sDBGdz6q1UkhphGPKE_yjaHSZdyDhtcDYpQq9acBIG2zQzlhyaFHmzTbgdltoZjIjHBmTn-EBftMDSbtjhDmxYu75KXVW4P6DJo-RJR36q28oee9BqSGADs/s1600/DArtDay2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33cusDpSOoWJV0URKYtX4sDBGdz6q1UkhphGPKE_yjaHSZdyDhtcDYpQq9acBIG2zQzlhyaFHmzTbgdltoZjIjHBmTn-EBftMDSbtjhDmxYu75KXVW4P6DJo-RJR36q28oee9BqSGADs/s320/DArtDay2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i>What would<i> you </i>call it? <i><br />
</i></div>Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-71209523005320982732011-05-13T09:38:00.000-07:002011-05-13T09:43:36.253-07:00Awesome Things?<a _mce_href="http://www.wtfructose.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dblogweek2011.gif" href="http://www.wtfructose.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dblogweek2011.gif" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img _mce_src="http://www.wtfructose.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dblogweek2011.gif" alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-28" height="187" src="http://www.wtfructose.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/dblogweek2011.gif" width="152" /></a><strong>Day 5 of D-Blog Week 2011</strong><br />
<br />
Today's topic: Awesome Things Diabetes Has Brought to Our Lives. Because, like <a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/" style="color: #674ea7;"><strong></strong></a><strong><a _mce_href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/" href="">Karen's blog</a></strong> says: Life with diabetes isn't <em>all</em> bad!<br />
Okay then...here I go. I'm going make a concerted effort here...<br />
Eh-hem...okay...eh-eh-hemm...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div _mce_style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">[enter cricket sound]</div><div _mce_style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">Well I don't know about this. Yesterday's post was so easy. Things I hate about diabetes? The thoughts and experiences flowed effortlessly through the keyboard onto the screen. But, since I am a rule-follower, I'm going to really try to come up with some awesome things.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">______________________</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"> </div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">It feels pretty good when your 4 year old comes up to you and tells you exactly how many grams of carbs are in a serving of fish crackers.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">Diabetes has allowed us to meet people we wouldn't have, otherwise.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">It's given me a purposeful outlet for writing.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">It's taught my daughter, at a very young age, the most basic of life lessons: the world is not fair.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">Diabetes swiftly and silently weeds out fly-by-night friends from truly deep relationships with people who care to get involved with the nitty/gritty of this disease.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">It provides real and tangible opportunities for C to look beyond her own needs and head up a walk team to raise money for awareness and research for all who are affected by diabetes.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">I'm always the mom who gets to go on the field trips!</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">We are never without snacks.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">Diabetes is the reason that an 8 year old got her very own phone.</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div _mce_style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">The most obvious awesome thing is the <b>DOC</b> (diabetes online community). We have friends all over the globe because of diabetes! I truly feel that these people (almost all of whom we have never seen face to face) have my back. Day or night, the support is there. It has been a wonderful, indescribable <b>awesome thing</b>!!! </div>Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-72343569019432669952011-05-11T11:50:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:44:03.213-07:00Stupid Diabetes. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxUx-OtROPv21zD8450uRWcWmyZ4qTvaw6bgSor5-N_iNBbevzmnOHL9sTLdzdGtnW1Bpy-5rLEdxy2KIxmYiM4FF1fa7U1xzhSzE9oE3pu0orjaHP58RBnlBsrjJnOrQAmKSPm7I910/s1600/dblogweek2011.gif" /><span id="goog_1183026147"></span><span id="goog_1183026148"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a></div><br />
<b>Day 4 of D-Blog Week 2011 </b><br />
<br />
Today's topic: 10 Things You hate About Diabetes (only 10, <b style="color: #8e7cc3;"><a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/p/blog-week-posts.html">Karen</a></b>?)<br />
_______________________<br />
<br />
Just when you think <i>Let's have dessert</i>, your t1 checks in at 356. <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
A shiver runs down your spine when the little girl down the street tells you "I wish C didn't have diabetes, then I could share my candy with her." <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
A spontaneous invitation for your t1 kid to go out to dinner with a friend makes you think twice. <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
A slowly-leaking insulin vial in the butter compartment starts making your entire refrigerator smell like Band-Aids. <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6lePOUEqcK99X-VShHhQEYW3T0cs4eBnkCu1ywUabTwEAOoc8ymWfeY9BVks8gHgR-uNdYP2LfKbPkgAeRCMuCQVkOhzCjCZz56QWMGK2k1_yB-P0l63Yot8mxYx6QcHfwculbwx_D6x/s1600/dunce.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6lePOUEqcK99X-VShHhQEYW3T0cs4eBnkCu1ywUabTwEAOoc8ymWfeY9BVks8gHgR-uNdYP2LfKbPkgAeRCMuCQVkOhzCjCZz56QWMGK2k1_yB-P0l63Yot8mxYx6QcHfwculbwx_D6x/s320/dunce.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diabetes needs the dunce cap.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>When you're set for a day at the baseball fields and have a coveted parking space, you realize no one grabbed the diabetes bag at home. <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
Just when your daughter is up to bat, she turns to you and says, "Mom, I feel low." <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
She wants a small bunch of grapes, like the other kids, but her number is 268. <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
You freak out when one of your non D kids drinks the last of the Crystal Light. <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
You find out from another mom that the reason your t1 daughter wasn't invited to her daughter's party is that she thought "cake and ice cream would just be too tempting for a diabetic." <i>Stupid diabetes</i>?<br />
<br />
Right after a painful site change, your 8 year old daughter looks up at you with tear-filled eyes and says, "I don't want to have diabetes when I grow up." <i>Stupid diabetes</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">[big sigh, painful lump in throat and broken heart]</div><br />
<b>Stupid diabetes</b>.Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-69752331352221017112011-05-11T10:26:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:44:03.299-07:00All Freaky on Mr. Frito Lay. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bittersweetdiabetes.com/p/blog-week-posts.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaklVn_e3WjljcusPiDcnezNodx5h64fauIOpYtV-s0xvaVx0IPBI2Qyo0CrAlQnKkJTlwfIrJ2F2DjRlFNxnWnUmacXwtrksZ8VfCKcYQw1amDlmRu2rK-b9Mi4edBVSUfe3TnIYOyM/s1600/dblogweek2011.gif" /></a></div><div align="left"><b>Day 3 of D-Blog Week 2011 </b></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> So, today's topic is Diabetes Bloopers. Diabetes is serious business, most of the time. But then there are those experiences where you just have to laugh. I'm reaching back in time here...This will be a "way-back Wednesday" post. This diabetes blooper is quite appropriate for today. It's laughable to me now. When it actually happened, not so much!</div><div align="left">________________________</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I was asked just recently about the early days of <a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/2009/04/diagnosis-day_17.html" style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>C's diagnosis</strong></a>. No warm, fuzzy memories. Fear, consumption, the unknown...that's what comes to mind. But, here's a memory that I can look back on, and if not laugh at, at least rustle up a little chuckle.<br />
<br />
It was in the very first days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHWGPUOm_oYE0_saHDOvyK6q6No_KInndj3gR-s4jPCo0MlZUG6MzhHTFrT0tVH12Fdk9NYSyneDn0cWddbrZsBx5C1K7kmUwU2xX8cSNrCKJglrpWP4a3qv4lGCEdO4h4CtDBv4hglRg/s1600-h/frito-lay-logo%5B1%5D.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329157037575250402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHWGPUOm_oYE0_saHDOvyK6q6No_KInndj3gR-s4jPCo0MlZUG6MzhHTFrT0tVH12Fdk9NYSyneDn0cWddbrZsBx5C1K7kmUwU2xX8cSNrCKJglrpWP4a3qv4lGCEdO4h4CtDBv4hglRg/s200/frito-lay-logo%5B1%5D.png" style="float: right; height: 89px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 113px;" /></a> at home after the hospital stay and after we got "all educated" on this crazy new way of life. It has to do with the counting of carbohydrates. Now, this is, for me, one of the great annoyances of this disease. No longer can we just put a bowl of chips out for all to munch from, but we need to count each one and know exactly what our little 2 year old (at the time) would be eating. Talk about irritating. But all you parents out there who go through this, day in and day out, can certainly relate. Well...I wonder if you can relate to my inner monster that slipped right out of me as I wrestled with this new routine. (If you can relate, I'd love to know...so I won't feel so alone in this area!)<br />
<br />
Anyway...we were having Frito Corn Chips...nothing abnormal about that. But I was still learning about carb-counting and nutrition guides and grams and so on. I turned the bag over, and for the life of me, could not figure out what the guide was telling me. Half of this confusion was due to the new-ness of diabetes. But the other half stemmed from the tremedous lack of sleep I was experiencing. </div><br />
<div align="left">Clearly, it was written at the top of the nutrition guide: Serving Size 1 oz. (28g/32 chips). But then, down the guide it read: <strong>Total Carbohydrate</strong> 15 g. Ug...28 grams or 15 grams? Which one was it? Through my clouded eyeballs I could <em>not</em> get a grasp of this. My little one wanted fritos and I was bound and determined to let her have them, diabetes or not. So…I decided to call Frito-Lay. I got the 800 number off the back of the bag. After the initial punching of millions of buttons in order to talk with a live person, there he was, Mr. Frito-Lay, himself.</div><div align="left">“Hello. My name is [Mr. Frito-Lay]. May I help you?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. Hello. I have some questions regarding the nutrition guide on a bag of Fritos.”<br />
<br />
“Yes ma’am. What seems to be the problem?” (Grrrr at the word “ma’am”)<br />
<br />
“Well, I’m confused about the grams. At the top of the guide, it says a serving size is one ounce at 28 grams for 32 chips.”<br />
<br />
“Yes, ma’am, that’s correct.”<br />
<br />
“But then down at the <strong>Total Carbohydrates</strong> it says 15 grams.”<br />
<br />
“Yyyyes, that’s correct.” His tone was beginning to sound patronizing.<br />
<br />
“Okay. But I don’t understand. 28 or 15…which is it?” My voice began to quiver.<br />
<br />
“Ma’am, I can see that this issue is very important to you, but I can assure you that the information on the nutrition guide <em>is</em> correct.”<br />
<br />
I began to sweat. In the background, C was beginning to fuss.<br />
<br />
“Okay…You don’t understand!” My voice started rising and my eyes were filling with tears. Then, I let it all go.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know what to do! My baby! She wants fritos and I don’t know what to do! Is it 15 grams or 28?! I need to give her a shot! I don’t understand this! She’s diabetic and I don’t know what to do!” By this time, I'm sobbing.<br />
<br />
“Okay, ma’am? Calm down, please calm down?”<br />
<br />
Sniff, sniff, “yes,” I squeeked.<br />
<br />
“Okay, ma’am, you hold on and I’ll go ask someone about all this. Now, hold on, okay?”<br />
<br />
“Okay,” sniff.<br />
<br />
I sat there, head down over the high chair tray, holding the fritos bag. C was content playing with my hair. As I grabbed a tissue and blew, a voice came back on the phone.<br />
<br />
“Ma’am?”<br />
<br />
“Yes.”<br />
<br />
“I’m now understanding a bit more clearly about what you’re asking. You need to focus on the 15 grams of carbohydrates. The serving size of one ounce is about 32 chips and it should <em>weigh</em> 28 grams…that’s the <em>weight</em>. One of my co-workers, here, knows a little bit about diabetes and explained it to me. I hope this helps.” There was no patronizing tone now.<br />
<br />
Big breath…”Yes…yes. Thank you.”<br />
<br />
“Well, thank you for calling Frito-Lay. And if there’s anything else we can help you with, please call again.” Click.<br />
_______________________</div><br />
I’m a grown woman. College-educated. Masters degree even. Obviously, I wasn’t thinking clearly. There I sat. I slowly counted out 32 chips for my daughter. As she happily munched away on them, I prepared her injection.<br />
<br />
(Sorry Mr. Frito-Lay. I didn’t mean to get all freaky on you.)Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-52586924123780364772011-05-10T08:00:00.000-07:002011-05-10T15:34:10.108-07:00Dear Fear. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_HARPz5ds6sAJ2W7IxLiYbTDYaL-e2MaL_CKhESs9hsrz3O2sIPxQx-qtCu_Is6E59QedEybFhBU2TNA0_i7C0aconS-5eG1UXndPZs9mGVD7QIsCcxvSKIbSyVtd3tY-6wcri0K2Wg/s1600/dblogweek2011.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_HARPz5ds6sAJ2W7IxLiYbTDYaL-e2MaL_CKhESs9hsrz3O2sIPxQx-qtCu_Is6E59QedEybFhBU2TNA0_i7C0aconS-5eG1UXndPZs9mGVD7QIsCcxvSKIbSyVtd3tY-6wcri0K2Wg/s1600/dblogweek2011.gif" /></a></div><b>Day 2 of D-Blog Week 2011</b><br />
<br />
Today's topic is Letter Writing. I thought about writing a letter to diabetes. Then I thought about writing to that wonderful nameless ER doc who pushed me, ever-so-gently, (and quickly) into signing papers that terrible night in order to administer insulin to our baby girl. I even thought about writing to glucagon and thanking it for being there when we need it. But, then I thought to myself, <i>get real!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Fear,<br />
<br />
You don't own me, you know. I realize there are times when it seems I've been completely overcome by you. But, I won't give you that much credit. You've done quite a number on me throughout the years, I'll admit. The whole cancer thing? That was a good one. But even <i>you</i> know that God has used that for his good purposes!<br />
<br />
You seem to creep up whenever and wherever you please. You seem to really revel on the first of every month when we need to pay bills. You use the nightly news at times to give me a good zing. But the main thing I despise you using against me is...my own kids. You know for certain that you can get to me through them. And I hate you for that.<br />
<br />
Yes. I feel you watching me when I say goodbye to my boys as they ride off on their bikes to school. I noticed how you grinned when middle C had so much trouble with his asthma that the only thing we could do was call 911. The minutes it took for the paramedics to arrive seriously crippled me...emotionally, spiritually, as well as physically. I'm sure that ambulance ride with my heart pounding gave you great pleasure.<br />
<br />
But let's be really honest here. Your favorite scare tactic on me involves diabetes, doesn't it? You just love playing the diabetes card. I know you use so many aspects of that disease to try and get a hold of my heart---the numbers, my forgetfulness, the reality of complications and those middle of the night checks. I bet you can't wait for my muscles to tense up at 4 o'clock in the morning, when I toss, turn and finally tiptoe down the hall to check on my precious daughter just because "I have a feeling."<br />
<br />
News stories about treasured children who lost their fight with diabetes, whether going undiagnosed or suffering a deadly hypoglycemic episode in their sleep...those must be opportunities you believe could really paralyze me. The thoughts in my head of earthquakes or other disasters that could prevent us from getting the supplies and life-saving insulin our daughter needs every day just to stay alive...that could do it. Don't you think?<br />
<br />
But Fear, like I wrote in the beginning: you don't own me...God does. 1 John 4:18 states <b><i>There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.</i></b> <br />
<br />
You see, I'm not perfect. But my God is...He <u>is</u> love. And so, when I look to <i>Him</i> instead of quivering at <i>you</i>, you just seem to disintegrate. I know to whom I belong. Now, it certainly is a life-long process, but I'm trying to be intentional in choosing a different viewpoint in those circumstances where it seems you would naturally pop up. I'm choosing to thank God for waking me at 4 o'clock in the morning to catch a low of 46, instead of fearing it will happen again and I not wake up. I'm choosing to take those heart-breaking stories of unfortunate children to fuel our advocacy fire. I'm choosing to let an earthquake remind me to stock up on C's insulin and supplies.<br />
<br />
I understand I will deal with you the rest of my life. I just wanted you to know that God has not given me <i><b>a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.</b></i> (2 Timothy 1:7)<br />
<br />
Sincerely and Most Assuredly,<br />
<br />
NanNan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-18382392421135278582011-05-09T10:45:00.001-07:002011-05-09T15:57:01.857-07:00Admiration. . .<div style="text-align: center;">ad • mi • ra • tion</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim">/ </span><span class="pron">ad-m<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>-<span class="boldface">rey</span>-sh<span class="ital-inline">uh</span>n</span><span class="prondelim"> / <i>noun</i></span></span></span><span class="pronset"> Respect and warm approval </span><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim"> _______________________</span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim">There are plenty of people for whom I have great admiration. But when it came to today's first D-Blog week topic, Admiring Our Differences, I immediately thought of a very small group of people who have very gently touched our lives. I'm not really even sure what to call this group of people. There are 3 of them. However, I'm certain that there are many many more out there as well. These 3 people have just happened upon a blog post of mine, my facebook profile or have come across one of my tweets on twitter.</span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim"> </span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim">They are wise individuals who just happened to have lived with type 1diabetes for 40 + years. Lived well, I might add. It may have been the smallest of comments on my previous blog, <b style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://www.mypumpgear.blogspot.com/">my pump gear</a></b>, or less than a 140 character response to a tweet, but it has meant the world to me</span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim"> </span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim">I began searching feverishly after C's diagnosis. What was I searching for? I didn't quite know. I guess I was searching for evidence that <i>C</i> would be okay. That <i>I</i> would be okay. That<i> life</i> would be okay...even with diabetes.</span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTda8s69DHnpfyLJQM0eNiw7jCPoYeZwWpqEVEZlKh5fsmZb9OpS_5-x9QuXanVRz8wy5BWW9yLenJSv_ItQZ-P41L-z75jDOeLQX3Rm_KXwYEgBWjQziRbpCWvgjn1V51jxxYxPiaWo/s1600/dblogweek2011.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTda8s69DHnpfyLJQM0eNiw7jCPoYeZwWpqEVEZlKh5fsmZb9OpS_5-x9QuXanVRz8wy5BWW9yLenJSv_ItQZ-P41L-z75jDOeLQX3Rm_KXwYEgBWjQziRbpCWvgjn1V51jxxYxPiaWo/s1600/dblogweek2011.gif" /></a><span class="prondelim">These people helped in such a poignant way. I never came out and asked the question: "Will my little 2 year old t1 girl grow up and experience life's joys?" But, it was kind of like these people know that is the exact question parents of kids with type 1 diabetes are so desperate (and fearful) to ask.</span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim">As time has gone by, I'm not really even certain how I can thank these folks. (Unless, of course, they're reading this!) But I admire them greatly. To live a life with this disease for so many years and not allow it to win out? Wow. Thank you, my little group of people who have softly touched me and given me an answer to the question I couldn't even utter out loud. </span></span></span><br />
<span class="pronset"><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim"></span></span></span></div>Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-41762194532348311402011-04-06T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-07T15:39:08.036-07:00Track Meat. . .<div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1i95EjDkODNp-hrz2kw4mPI5CdXsJhWMU-j0NdgwisGAPD7sn38wryDkF5pw6L_pFL2yyZ4r8FADwoGQBbEvc4kLMPDOIuZn8xz6Gj2tcU73uzvdwu10CzXAP26OwAIfHZ4OmRE9_x8/s1600/shoe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1i95EjDkODNp-hrz2kw4mPI5CdXsJhWMU-j0NdgwisGAPD7sn38wryDkF5pw6L_pFL2yyZ4r8FADwoGQBbEvc4kLMPDOIuZn8xz6Gj2tcU73uzvdwu10CzXAP26OwAIfHZ4OmRE9_x8/s1600/shoe.jpeg" /></a></div>Yes, I know I wrote <i>meat</i> instead of <i>meet</i>. <br />
____________________<br />
<br />
Every Spring, our school district holds an all-elementary school track meet. It's a one day event that helps introduce track events to 4th and 5th graders. My oldest participated when he was in 5th grade. Ironically, my middle (the runner in the family) never opted to be a part of it.<br />
<br />
C is a 3rd grader this year, so it caught me by surprise when she brought home the permission slip for the track meet. She was so excited. The district had opened it up to 3rd grade as well. We filled out the necessary forms and, as I always do, I wrote TYPE 1 DIABETES, diagonally, across the section titled: Medical Concerns. I even wrote a brief sentence at the bottom of the paperwork something like <i>C's parent will need to be in close proximity to her at all times to manage her blood sugars.</i><br />
<br />
C took all the papers back to school and turned them in the next day. I put the thought of the track meet out of my mind (or at least on a small back burner.)<br />
<br />
On the week of the meet, she got the list of her events: 400 m relay, 100 m dash and 50 m dash. The other relayer's moms stopped me after school and said the girls were going to practice a couple times that week. Wow! They were serious! After retrieving C's D bag from the office, she did a quick finger check...64. Ug. At that moment, the thought of the track meet was plopped right on the biggest front burner, so quickly that I almost got scalded! She munched on a couple glucose tabs and we waited. I kind of fumbled over my diabetes explanation to one of the moms whom I had never met before. The other 2 know us quite well. You'd think after all the times I've needed to explain C's diabetes that I would have it down pat. Well, I don't. (That could be another post.)<br />
<br />
When C came up in the 100's, out to the field we went. The girls practiced several times, passing the baton and running fast. Watching them, I noticed my daughter was not the only one running in inappropriate shoes. We headed to a shoe store, got some cute little pink and white track shoes and then made our way home. From that day through the end of the week, the thought of the track meet simmered, stewed and sometimes boiled in my mind.<br />
<br />
So many things swirled through my head.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I'll need to be near C at all times.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>What's the best carb choice of snacks? Easiest to eat...and then run?</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Will they let a parent down on the field?</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I'll need to be ready with a good explanation.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>What is a good number to have before she starts running?</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>How do I get her to that number and keep her there?</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>What about in between events?</i><br />
<br />
Sigh. I wasn't necessarily panicking...just mentally preparing.<br />
<br />
After dinner that night, C paraded around the house in her new shoes. She was so excited. And, really, I was too. She had never done anything like this and I wanted her to do it. So, I put a quick question out there on twitter...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">my 9 yr old t1 is in a track meet tomorrow!...any tips out there about bgs??? <a class="tweet-url hashtag" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23diabetes" rel="nofollow" title="#diabetes">#diabetes</a></span></span></span></div><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content">Within minutes <a href="https://twitter.com/LaMerenguera" style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>@LaMerenguera</b></a></span></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"> came to the rescue! I learned about Clif Bars, not disconnecting to run and where she likes to be, bg-wise, before a run. Gatorade can help ward off the lows but won't spike her like juice. Clipping the pump inside the shorts will help keep it more secure. Such good tips!...Thanks Jess!!</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">So we were armed: Clif Bars, Gatorade, pump clip, peanut butter crackers, glucose tabs, yogurt tubes and a good explanation as to why I needed to be allowed in and out of the track gate while other parents weren't. (Oh...and cute new pink and white shoes too!).</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">The meet was a great success. C came home with a ribbon for the relay. She was thrilled. I was relieved. I only needed to explain our situation about 5 times. But we did it. She did it!</span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body" style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">On a side note...while the runners were waiting on benches for one of the events, C did one of the many bg checks for the day. A little boy noticed and asked "Oh, is she diabetic?" </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body" style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"> I told him "Yes, yes she is..." </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body" style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">"I am too," he said..."Type 1." </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body" style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">"Oh wow, so you know what we're doing! What's your number right now?" (He, too, was waiting to participate in an event.) </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body" style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">"Oh, I don't know. I only check a couple times a day." I think my eyes got really big for a second. </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body" style="font-size: small;"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">"Hmmm," I said. I couldn't think of anything else to say. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"> ____________________ </span></b></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">Alright...use of the word meat simply referenced how I felt when we got home...like track <i>meat</i>! I took a nap, exhausted. And, <i>I</i> wasn't even the one who ran!</span></b></span></span><span class="status-body"><span class="status-content"><span class="entry-content"> </span></span></span>Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3912983901189756315.post-11331513379386886602011-04-01T07:00:00.000-07:002011-04-01T07:00:04.565-07:00eat. pray . bolus.Today is the day. It wasn't easy, but I think I found the bridge from ye olde blog, <a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>my pump gear</b></span></a><span style="color: black;">,</span> to our new home here at <b style="color: #351c75;">eat. pray. bolus.</b> It's been slow-going. And at times, I enjoyed the break from blogging. But, for a while now, I've been itching to get back into it. It took a while to figure out exactly how to format the new site. And, honestly, I don't have all the puzzle pieces in place. But I figured, I better just dive in!<br />
<br />
First decision?...a name. Although I will continue to write mainly about how diabetes affects our lives, I wanted to encompass more than that. Or at the least, allow myself to write and share about more than that. We all know that there is definitely more to life than the big D. So I thought. As I browsed through old posts, I came upon our walk team last November. We had such positive response to our walk t-shirts! That's it! eat. pray. bolus.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><b>eat.</b></div><br />
Food?...I love it!...check!<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><b>pray.</b></div><br />
So much of my experiences are touched by faith...check!<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #351c75;"><b>bolus.</b></div><br />
Diabetes gets woven into nearly all aspects of our family's life...check!<br />
<br />
If you are part of the few, the proud, who followed <a href="http://mypumpgear.blogspot.com/" style="color: #0b5394;"><b>my pump gear</b></a>, you must have clicked, and now you're here...I hope you'll stick around. Although I am going to expand the content, most...if not all posts will touch on our lives with type 1 diabetes. How can it not?Nan Sojkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04159377380685153539noreply@blogger.com7